LESDEP officials warned against selection of beneficiaries based on political affiliation

Akwatia (E/R), Sept. 25, GNA – The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Mr Mohammed Ahmed Baba-Jamal, had warned officials of the Local Enterprises and Skills Development Programme (LESDEP), against selection of persons for the project based on their political affiliation. He said the project was designed to benefit all Ghanaians and that it was wrong to demand to know the political affiliation of anybody who wanted to register for the programme. Mr Baba-Jamal said this when speaking at the presentation of vehicles and working tools worth over GH¢45,000 to 31 individuals and groups under the LESDEP project at Akwatia on Monday. The items presented include hair dryers, cooking utensils, a vehicle, cameras with instant photo printing machines, sewing machines, ice chest and tools for employable skills. He pleaded with communities that had mounted signboards with the inscription “No electricity, no votes” in the Akwatia Constituency, to have patience with the government to follow the plans for the extension of the power to all communities in the area. He said soon a water project would start in the area which involved the construction of a dam over the Birim River with a water treatment plant to supply portable water to people of the Akwatia Constituency and beyond. He said already government had provided a GH¢900,000 small town water projects for Akyem Wenchi, Apinamang and Dwenase. Ms Fatahiya Zulka, Eastern Regional Coordinator of LESDEP, said the project did not discriminate against anybody as it had programmes for people with disabilities. She said if the project was well managed, it could help reduce the unemployment rate in the country and create wealth. Ms Zulka urged the beneficiaries to pay back the cost of items given to them. The government nominee for the District Chief Executive post for the newly created Denkyembuo District, Mr Samuel Kweku Abrokwa, who chaired the function, pleaded with the beneficiaries not to keep the items given them in their rooms but to work with them to be able to pay back the cost early.